Prince

:For other meanings, see Prince (disambiguation).

Oriental and other native counterparts

One must bear in mind that all of the above is essentialy the story of European, christian dynasties and other nobility, also 'exported' to their colonial and other overseas territories and otherwise adopted by rather westernized societies elsewhere (e.g. Haiti).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

However, the practise of applying these essentially western concepts and even terminology to other cultures, even when they don't, is common but in many respects rather dubious. The reality is that their different (historical, religious ...) backgrounds have also begot significantly different dynastic and nobiliary systems, which are poorly represented by the 'closest' western analogy.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It therefore makes sense to treat these per civilization.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Islamic traditions

• Arabian tradition since the caliphate
• Malay countries
• In the Ottoman empire, the sovereign of imperial rank (incorrectly known in the west as (Great) sultan) was styled padishah with a host of additional titles, reflecting his claim as political successor to the various conquered states. Princes of the blood, male and female, were given the style sultan (normally reserved for muslim rulers)
• & other Near East
• etc

Far East (Hindu, Buddhist, etc.)

• princely states in (former British) India ...
• China

In ancient China, the title of prince developed from being the highest title of nobility (synonymous with duke) in the Zhou Dynasty, to five grades of princes (not counting the sons and grandsons of the emperor) by the time of the fall of the Qing Dynasty.

Related Topics:
China - Nobility - Duke - Zhou Dynasty - Qing Dynasty

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Japan

In Japan,the title of prince (kôshaku 公爵) was used as the highest title of kazoku(華族Japanese modern nobility) before the present constitution.

Related Topics:
Japan - Kazoku

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Prince is also used as the translation of shinnô (親王(literally king of the blood) female;naishinnô(内親王(literally queen(by herself) of the blood) and shinnôhi親王妃(literally consort of king of the blood)) or ô (王(literaly king) female;nyoô(女王(literaly queen (by herself)) and ôhi(王妃(literally consort of king)). The former is the higher title of a male member of the Imperial family and the latter is the lower.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Korea
• Indochina : Vietnam, Laos
• and many other

Africa

Except for the Arabized, muslim North and some other monarchies that simply adopted islamic practices, usually the systems are completely independent or almost.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~